Bethel, NC
Bethel wildfire risk explained
USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities model puts Bethel at the 39th national percentile for risk to structures, close to the middle of USFS's national wildfire-risk range — a score built from 884 actual buildings. (Source: USFS's Wildfire Risk to Communities methodology.)
Separately from the risk score above, Bethel's burn probability — fire likelihood with no building count factored in — sits at the 38th percentile nationally.
What "at risk" means for the buildings here
884 buildings are counted in Bethel, and 57.6% of them sit in USFS's Direct exposure zone — flame contact, not just ember cast, is the live possibility for most of them, against 0% rated Minimal.
How Bethel compares
Bethel ranks lower within North Carolina (13th percentile statewide) than its 39th national percentile suggests alone — a calmer spot in a state where wildfire risk generally runs high. Among the 31,521 US communities USFS scores, Bethel ranks 19,350 for wildfire risk (1 is highest) and 12,870 by building count (1 is largest). Within North Carolina alone, it ranks 671 of 772 places by risk. See the full county-by-county picture for North Carolina on its state page.
Shopping for coverage in Bethel
Bethel's moderate rating (39th percentile nationally) sits outside the range where wildfire risk alone reshapes an insurance market — still, a homeowner here loses nothing by comparing rates.
Hardening a home in Bethel
Because Direct exposure dominates in Bethel (57.6%), the highest-leverage fix is defensible space, not roofing or vents alone — covered in the home-hardening guide.
Where Bethel's figures come from
The methodology guide shows exactly how USFS turned 884 counted buildings into the percentiles shown above for Bethel. The exposure-zones guide covers what Bethel's dominant direct exposure actually means, with real examples from across the dataset.